Guest Column: Conservatives versus Liberals

Greg Feldkamp, Community Press Guest Columnist

You cannot pick up a newspaper, turn on TV or the radio without hearing about conservative this and liberal that. The problem is no one explains the difference between the two groups. Well "Old Greg" is here to set the record straight. I have followed the political scene for decades and can say with certainty that the main difference between the two is this, Liberals base their ideas, policies, etc. on feelings where Conservatives base theirs on facts. Now that I have the liberals pounding the table, let me offer examples.

For over a decade, the liberals said the reason we have federal deficits and debt is the "Bush Tax Cuts for the Rich." That is what they feel is the reason. The fact is anyone that actually paid federal taxes saw them go down, not just the rich Also, if you research information from the Congressional Budget Office revenues paid into the treasury actually went up after this tax plan went into effect. Facts vs feelings.

Liberals also feel dramatically raising taxes on the rich will fix deficits. My question: ow many have ever received a paycheck from a poor person? The fact is the rich create most of the private sector jobs in this country. Taxing them will only reduce the jobs created and hurt the economy.

Liberals also say, including the current President, we do not have a spending problem, we have a revenue problem. There again they feel this is the case. The facts are the Federal government spends about 38 percent more then they take in. That means that 38 cents of every dollar spent is borrowed, and we don't have a spending problem?

Now the liberals are saying if we just trample on the Second Amendment and pass a bunch of new gun laws mass killings will stop.

The fact is that Sept. 11, 2001, over 3,000 people died in attacks. How many shots were fired? The fact is none. On April 19, 1995, 168 men, women and children were killed in Oklahoma City and again not one shot was fired. On April, 15, 2013, in Boston three people were killed and over 250 injured. Once again, not a shot fired. The fact is that if someone is either very sick or just hell bent on killing, there is no law that can stop them. that is just the facts.

I could go on and on with more examples but I think I have made my point. I believe most Americans want everyone to succeed. The problem is that when we try to govern with only our feelings, everyone suffers. If we base our policies on what focus groups or the main stream media says rather then using actual data, you end up with bad legislation and policy. We as a country cannot continue to reward takers and punish makers. What happened to the old saying "an honest day's pay for an honest day's work?" We could use more of that today in America.

Greg " Old Greg" Feldkamp lives in Tate Township.

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Guest Column: Conservatives versus Liberals

You cannot pick up a newspaper, turn on TV or the radio without hearing about conservative this and liberal that. The problem is no one explains the difference between the two groups. Well 'Old Greg'